PM Abbasi chairs top-level national security huddle

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi is presiding over a meeting of National Security Committee to discuss security related matters and situation developing in the aftermath of United States President Donald Trump’s Afghan and South Asia policy, ARY News reported.

The NSC is meeting for the third time since the pronouncement of the Afghan policy by the US president last month. Top civil and military leadership will deliberate upon security-related matters and Pakistan’s foreign policy.

The meeting comes amid a lot of hubbub over the statement of Foreign Minister Khawaja Asif for suggesting, “We must “put our house in order” during an interview this week.

The minister’s statement invited the ire of the opposition parties as they slammed him over his remarks, saying his statement mocked the sacrifices rendered the army in war on terror and also supported the new US policy on South Asia and its demand to do more.

Speaking at the Asia Society seminar in New York, Pakistan’s foreign minister said that the country cannot shoulder the responsibility for America’s failing policy to bring peace to Afghanistan.

Asif said that United States cannot succeed in Afghanistan by waging war since US troops are fighting the insurgents for last 16 years. “Afghan conflict can only be resolved through negotiation,” he emphasized.

Dismissing accusations of providing safe havens to terrorists in Pakistan, the minister accused Afghanistan of harboring these sanctuaries.

“No other country desires peace in war-torn Afghanistan than Pakistan,” he added.

The Minister said various Afghan leaders want to continue status quo for their vested interests. He blamed India for carrying out terrorist activities in Pakistan through Afghanistan, saying that more than 66 terrorist organisations are active inside India.